Circular-knitting machine



June 11, 1929. 1 T. s. GRn-:VE 1,716,691

' CIRCULAR KNVITTING' MACHINE A Filed June 3, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Patented June 1l, 1929.

UNETED S'lA'lhlS PATENT GFFICE.

CRCULAR-KNITTING MACHNE. l

Application filed .Tune 3, 1326, Serial No. 113,386, and in Great Eritan.Tune 25, 1925.

rl`his invention relates to circular knitting machines and concernsthose of the double` needle-cylinder cnd-to-end type. The invention isapplicable to such machines hav-l ing either rotary or stationary needlecylinders when equipped with what are known as inside sinlrers.

ln knitting` machines of this kind difficulty is experienced when itbecomes necessary to have access to the sinlrers such for example as forrenewal or replacement in the event of breakages.l The sinlrers areusually mounted in the bottom cylinder i. e. in a ring or brass fittedinto the upper end of said cylinder and in order to get at saidsinlre-rs it is necessary to dismantle and remove adjacent portions ofthe upper parts of the machine which involves trouble and time.

The main object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionand arrangement which will facilitate access to and removal of thesinkers when necessary.

rlhe main object of the invention is achieved by the provision of meansand an improved construction which enables separationof the cylinders tobe effected in a ready manner whereby sufficient space for the desiredpurpose is provided between them.

In the preferred arrangement the top needle cylinder and its cam box arearranged as a complete assembly 'adapted .for bodily upward movement orremoval and the sinker cam in the bottoni cylinder is adapted fordisplacement to enable the sinkers to be removed.

lt is a .feature of the inifention that the top needle cylinder and itscam box are carried by a member which is common to both and is supportedby the machine frame in such a manner that it can be raised whennecessary to lift the needle cylinder and cam box from the operativeposition to provide the desired space thereunder for access to andremoval of the sinlers.

ln conjunction with the above-mentioned feature the upper portion of thesinlrer cam in the bottom needle cylinderis constructed and arranged sothat it can be raised to permit removal of the sinlrers.

In the further following description reference will be hereinafter madeto the accompanying drawing wherein an arrangement constituting apractical example of the invention is shown applied to a knittingmachine of' the before mentioned type havine rotary needle cylinders. t)

ligure 1 is la sectional elevation, and l* igure 2 is a plan of thearrangement, the section being taken on the line 1 1 of Fieure 2. mReferring to the drawings the top cylinder 1 and its cam box 2 arecarried by an annular member 3 fitted into a corresponding opening inthe top plate l of the machine frame. The cylinder is attached to abearer 5 mounted upon ball bearings 6 and 7 in said member and keyed ona pin 8 which is screwed into the upper race 9 of the bearings 6 inorder to support the carrier. The race 9 may be locked in position by anut 10 and each of these parts may be provided with tommy holes. The camboX 2 is attached to the underside of the member 3 by screws 11. Thesaid member may be fastened in the top plate 4lin any suitable manner.Conveniently it is formed with a flange and is normally held down byclamps 12 fixed on the top plate by means of screws 18. Preferably eachclamp `is provided with a slot 141 so as to enable it to be movedradially to free the member 3, without removing the screw.

lVhen it is desired to have access to the sinker 15 in the bottomcylinder 16 the annular member is unfastened and raised, by hand orother means, in the top plate the opening in which acts as a bearing.Means are furnished to hold the member in the raised position, and,conveniently said means consist of two (or more) pins 17 in the topplate which are normally engaged by notches 18 (or slots or holes) inthe flange of the annular member when the latter occupies its lowerposition and which theeby serve as positioning pins for said member. Thepins 17' are of such a length that when the annular member is raised andgiven a slight turning movement in the top plate so as to bring itsflange over the pins, they will constitute support to hold the topcylinder at a. suitable heio'ht above the bottom cylinder for theintended purpose. At a suitable point the flange of the member 3 may beprovided with a notch 19 or slotted to engage with a pin 2O longer thanthe pins 17 for the purpose of limiting the turning movement of saidmember. This pin may have a head to limit upward movement of the member.

CII

The top cylinder is driven from the usual vertical shaft 2l by means ofa driving pinion 22 and a gear 23, the latter being keyed on the pin 8.The pinion 22 is et such width that the Ojear still meshes therewithwhen the top cylinder is raised, thereby obviating relative mo\fementbetween the two cylinders. The annular member has a gap 24@ formed in itso as to enable it to clear the pinion 22 when raised and rotated.

ln conjunction with the arrangement olf the top cylinder and cam boxjust described, the upper portion otthe sinker cam 25 is attached to ashouldered sleeve 26 capable oil" einlwise n'iovement up and down in thebottom cylinder 16. The cam sleeve has attached to it a longer sleeve 27which extends below the bottom olf the bottom cylinder and at its lowerend may be knurled or have a knnrled flange or be otherwise adapted forrotation by hand or by a suitable tool. rfhe two sleeves are screwedtogether i. e. one screws into or upon the other.

rlhe shouldered sleeve 26 ts in a corresponding opening in a sleeve 28to which the lower part of the sinker cam 25 is attached, and in normalworking position is held down by the sleeve 27 which is tightenedagainst a shoulder 29 in the sleeve 2S and thus serves as a nut. 'Whenthe sleeve 26 is to be raised the sleeve 27 is unscrewed by rotationdown the cam sleeve and then pushed up thereby pushing the said sleeveupwards.

lllhen as in the example just described the needle cylinders are rotary,the sleeve 28 in which the cam sleeve 26 is mounted is, el course,normally stationary within the liiottom cylinder.

fr cover may be lined on the top plate 4l by screws 3l, said coveringbeing provided with openings 32 in order to clear the clamps i2 whichmay therefore serve as locating means for the cover.

il-,That l claim then is Y l. ln a circular knitting machine of the typehei ein described, a construction wherein the top needle cylinder andits cam boi; are carried by a llangcd annular member litted into anopening in the top plate of the machine said member being movablevertically and also rotatably to lift and hold the needle cylinder clearof the opposing bottom needle cylinder whereby space is provided betweensaid cylinders lor access to the sinkers.

2. ln a circular knitting machine of the type herein described, aconstruction wherein the top needle cylinder and cam box are carried bya flanged annular member fitted into an opening in the top plate of themachine and normally held down by clamps, said top plate having pinswhich are normally engaged by slots in the flange of the annular member,said flange alter being lifted and turned, rest-ing upon said pins tohold the needle cylinder in a raised position to provide access betweenit and the opposing needle cylinder tor access to the sinkers in thebottom needle cylinder.

3. In a. circular knit-ting machine of the type herein described, aconstruction wherein the top needle cylinder and its cam box are carriedby a flanged annular member fitted into an opening in the top plate ofthe machine and normally held down by clamps, said top plate having pinswhich are normally engaged by slots in the flange oit the annularmember, the latter being movable vertically and also rotatably wherebyits flange may be rested upon the pins to hold the to-p cylinder raisedfrom the opposing bottom cylinder to provide space between saidcylinders for access to the sinkers in the bottom needle cylinder, and apin longer than said supporting pins is provided tor engagement by anotch in the annular member to limit the turning movement ot thelat-ter.

4. ln a circular knitting machine of the type herein described, aconstruction wherein the top needle cylinder is adapted to be raisedvtrom the operative position to provide space between the opposingcylinders tor access to the sinkers, the upper portion of the sinker camin the bottom needle cylinder, and a sinker cam which is adapted to beraised to permit removal of t-he sinkers, said cam portion beingattached to a shouldered sleeve capable of endwise movement up and downin the cylinder and having screwed upon it a longer sleeve which extendsbelow the bottom ot' the bott-om cylinder and is adapted for rotation,sa-id sleeve being in the normal position tightened against a shoulderin a sleeve in which the cam sleeve lits.

In a circular knitting machine ot the type herein described, a bottomneedle cylinder carrying inside sinkers and a sinker cam and providedwith means for raising said cam to permit removal of the sinkers, saidmeans comprising a vertically movale sleeve supporting the cam, and asleeve engaging therewith and extending below the cylinder.

ln testimony whereol:` l atlix my signature.

THOMAS SCOTT GRIEVE.

